A BIBLE-TRAINED CONSCIENCE VERSUS A GOVERNING BODY-TRAINED CONSCIENCE
In the book “Keep yourselves in God’s Love” (2014), page 212, there is an article entitled, “Flag salute, Voting, and Civil service.” The conclusion is that saluting the flag and voting are wrong for Christians, but civil service as an alternative to military service is not wrong. Therefore, each Christian must decide whether he or she will accept civil service.
In the article, “Democracy versus theocracy — the Christians and the Superior Authorities” I show that for 51 years, the leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses had the view that accepting compulsory civil service was wrong, but in the year 1996, the members of the Governing Body changed their mind, and from that date, compulsory civil service was not wrong. I argue in the article that the viewpoint held for 51 years was correct, and the new viewpoint is wrong. Because Christians are citizens of God’s kingdom, they literary belong to another country than the one in which they were born. Therefore, they do not accept that a nation has the right to put them under compulsory military service or compulsory alternative civil service.
The article in “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” says that because there are no biblical objections to compulsory civil service, each Christian must use their conscience to decide if they would do this service.
The deception is: The members of the Governing Body decide what the Witnesses shall believe and do. Then they say that the Bible-trained consciences of the Witnesses have decided this.
In recent times, a new catchword has been coined, namely, “a Bible-trained conscience.” However, this catchword should instead have been “a Governing Body-trained conscience.” The Witnesses are led to believe that they are the ones who, based on their conscience, make decisions. But the truth is that the members of the Governing Body have already made the decision on behalf of the Witnesses.
The Watchtower of August 2024 is an example of this. The question in paragraph 14 on page 30 is: “How can Christians use their Bible-trained conscience in dealing with those who have been removed from the congregation?” The answer is that each Christian can use their Bible-trained conscience to decide whether to invite someone who has been removed from their congregation to a meeting and whether to say a short greeting of welcome if he or she attends the meeting.
But stop and think! Is there really a Bible-trained conscience at work here? Before September 2024, the members of the Governing Body had forbidden any contact with those who had been removed from the congregation. So, at this time, Christians’ “Bible-trained conscience” prevented them from inviting those who had been removed from the congregation to a meeting or greeting them.
Let us take a step further and inquire how Christians with a real Bible-trained conscience will treat those who have been removed from the congregation. The Greek word in 1 Corinthians 5:11 dealing with how to treat the mentioned persons is synanamignymi, which has the basic meaning of “mixing together.” The members of the Governing Body have interpreted this word as “not socializing with,” and this is an excellent definition.
So, the Bible-trained conscience of Christians will cause them not to socialize with those who have been removed from the congregation. However, the members of the Governing Body have gone much further than this. They have forbidden Christians to have a conversation with those who have been removed from the congregation. These must be shunned and completely isolated. This is something very different from “not socializing with,” which is what those with a Bible-trained conscience should not do. This means that when Christians follow the treatment prescribed by the Governing Body of those who have been removed from the congregation, this is not based on their Bible-trained consciences but it is based on their Governing Body–trained consciences.
The problem is that the Governing Body-trained conscience is not only working in connection with those who have been removed from the congregation. But this kind of conscience is working in the whole lives of Jehovah’s Witnesses today.
This is also seen in connection with compulsory service. Before the year 1996, the Bible-trained consciences of the Witnesses led them to refuse compulsory civil service because the Christians are citizens and ambassadors of God’s kingdom. But now this position as citizens of God’s kingdom is ignored, and the Governing-Body trained consciences allow the Witnesses to accept compulsory civil service.
The members of the Governing Body often change their minds as to what is right and wrong. And after each change, the consciences of the Witnesses have been adjusted and changed according to the new decision of the Governing Body.
Thus, the Witnesses generally have Governing-Body trained consciences and not Bible-trained consciences. |
SALUTING THE FLAG AND BIBLE-TRAINED CONSCIENCES
Most people of all nations have no objection to saluting the flag in their native country. But Jehovah’s Witnesses are different in this respect.
THE REASONS GIVEN WHY JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES DO NOT SALUTE THE FLAG
Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses not salute the flag? In their literature, two reasons are given, 1) Saluting the flag is an act of worship and idolatry, and 2) It is the same as pledging allegiance to an earthly authority.
Awake! of October 22, 1987, page 26, says:
Jehovah’s Witnesses have always been law-abiding citizens who intend no disrespect by their refusal to salute the flag of any country. The Witnesses believe that their paramount duty and allegiance belong to their God and Maker, Jehovah. (Luke 4:8) To pledge total allegiance to any earthly authority would be to put worldly interests before spiritual interests. (Acts 5:29) Despite this sincere motive, the Witnesses’ refusal to salute the flag has often been misunderstood and used as a basis for persecution.
The Watchtower of September 15, 2002, page 21, says:
At times, saluting a national flag becomes a popular expression of patriotic feelings. But flags often bear representations of things in the heavens, such as stars, as well as things on the earth. God expressed his view of bowing down to such objects when he commanded his people: “You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion.”—Exodus 20:4, 5.
The book “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” (2014), page 212 says:
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that bowing down to a flag or saluting it, often in conjunction with an anthem, is a religious act that ascribes salvation, not to God, but to the State or to its leaders. (Isaiah 43:11;1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21).
The online article “Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Respectfully abstain From Participating in Nationalistic Ceremonies?” says: (Quoted 7.31.2024):
God alone deserves our worship. The Bible says: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Luke 4:8) Pledges of allegiance and national anthems often contain wording that promises devotion to a country above all else. So Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot in good conscience participate in such ceremonies.
Jehovah’s Witnesses likewise feel that saluting the flag amounts to an act of worship, or idolatry, which the Bible prohibits. (1 Corinthians 10:14) Some secular sources acknowledge that national flags are, in effect, religious symbols. “Nationalism’s chief symbol of faith and central object of worship is the flag,” wrote historian Carlton J. H. Hayes. Regarding early Christians, author Daniel P. Mannix observed: “Christians refused to . . . sacrifice to the [Roman] emperor’s genius—roughly equivalent today to refusing to salute the flag.”
Jehovah’s do not salute the flag because:
1) It pledges total allegiance to an earthly authority. 2) It ascribes salvation to the state and not to God. 3) It is a religious act — an act of worship. |
SALUTING THE FLAG IS NOT AN ACT OF WORSHIP OR IDOLATRY
The Watchtower of September 15, 2002, page 21, mentions that the Israelites had different standards for their tribes, and that there were representations of cherubs in the Tabernacle. But these were not worshipped. It also mentions the snake of copper that the people could look to in order to get healed when they were bitten by snakes. But this copper snake was not worshipped at this time.
In connection with figures today and worship, The Watchtower of May 15, 1972, page 295, had an interesting article, which I quote:
PERSONS desiring divine approval need to know whether certain representations are idolatrous or simply decorative, ornamental. One who cannot discern just what constitutes an idol would have difficulty in heeding the Bible’s commands: “Flee from idolatry.” “Guard yourselves from idols.” (1 Cor. 10:14; 1 John 5:21) This could be disastrous for the individual concerned. Why? Because idolaters are specifically named among those who will not inherit God‘s kingdom.—1 Cor. 6:9, 10.
What, then, makes something an idolatrous representation? Is a statue, picture, or the like, an idol because the creature or thing represented was at one time an object of worship? Can something be an idol in one part of the world but merely serve ornamental or decorative purposes in another part of the world? What should guide a Christian in determining whether he should get rid of certain items because of their idolatrous association?
The Holy Scriptures make it plain that not all pictures, statues and other representations are idols. Whether an object is an idol or not primarily depends on how it is viewed. This might be illustrated by ancient representations of bulls.
In the courtyard of the temple built by Solomon stood the “molten sea.” This large vessel rested upon the figures of twelve bulls. These representations thus served both a utilitarian and an ornamental purpose. But they were never worshiped. Supporting as they did a vessel that normally held around 11,600 gallons of water, the bulls were a fitting symbol of strength or power. (1 Ki. 7:26) They called attention to the truth enunciated at Psalm 62:11: “Strength belongs to God.”
On the other hand, the golden calves set up by King Jeroboam at Dan and Bethel were idols. They received actual worship in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Even though the claim was made that the golden calves represented Jehovah, this did not make the relative worship given to them acceptable. (1 Ki. 12:28; 14:7-9) Declared Jehovah through his prophet Isaiah: “I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isa. 42:8) By making the golden calves (evidently young bulls) and using them in worship, the Israelites made themselves guilty of exchanging God’s glory for something that misrepresented him. How insulting it was to the supreme Sovereign of the universe to be represented as a bull, “an eater of vegetation”!—Ps. 106:20.
The fact that the bull was an object of worship in the Northern Kingdom of Israel did not make the bulls at Solomon’s temple idols. Similarly, the fact that various creatures, plants and heavenly bodies—all part of God’s creative works—have been and still are being given veneration would not in itself make them unacceptable for decorative or ornamental purposes. Many things that were at one time worshiped by the ancients have lost their idolatrous significance and are generally regarded as being merely ornamental.
However, the Christian has to be careful that he does not begin to look upon any object as being something more than it actually is. This aspect was well expressed by Jehovah’s faithful servant Job: “If I used to see the light when it would flash forth, or the precious moon walking along, and my heart began to be enticed in secrecy and my hand proceeded to kiss my mouth, that too would be an error for attention by the justices, for I should have denied the true God above.”—Job 31:26-28.
Accordingly, if a Christian felt that the presence of a certain picture or object could stir up worshipful feelings because of its ancient idolatrous association, he would want to get rid of it. This could include personal ornaments, jewelry and the like. And, of course, he would not want to keep things that presently have a supposed sacred significance or that are specifically designed for use in false religious rituals. That would be true even if the items in question no longer had any religious significance to him. Like Christians in ancient Ephesus, he would destroy appendages of false worship, regardless of how expensive they may have been, so that no one else could misuse them.—Acts 19:19.
One important conclusion of the article is that “Whether an object is an idol or not primarily depends on how it is viewed.” It is difficult to dispute this conclusion. Another important conclusion is that “the Christians has to be careful that he does not begin to look upon any object as being something more than it actually is.” How, then, is saluting the flag viewed?
When I put the question, “What is the real meaning of saluting the flag” on the Internet (7.31.2024), I got the following answer from Google:
It simply reminds us of our duty to our country and our fellow citizens. The salute is an action that shows respect for the flag and our country. If you are wearing a hat, you would stand, place your hat over your left shoulder so that your right hand is over your heart, face the flag and recite the pledge.[1]
In connection with saluting the Australian flag, I found the following meaning:
The salute itself has become a symbol of respect and remembrance.[2]
In connection with saluting the flag of the United States of America, I found the following meaning:
Saluting the Red, White and Blue is testimony of sincere patriotism, loyalty, love for our country and respect for American ideals. The Stars and Stripes symbolizes the freedoms, equality, justice and humanity which our forefathers defined as the essence of American democracy. The Flag of the United States symbolizes the sacrifices made by millions of Americans to keep our way of life secure. There are two ways to properly salute the U.S. Flag. They are hand-to-head and hand-to-heart.[1]
[1]. https://vfwauxiliary.org/americanism-saluting-the-flag/.
The book “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” (2014), page 212, quotes the historian Carlton Hayes, who wrote that “Nationalism’s chief symbol of faith and central object of worship is the flag.” The sources and context of these words are not stated. However, the quotation is from the article, “Nationalism is a religion,” (page 5) published in the year 1926.
In our context, it is important to understand the difference between nationalism and patriotism. Vocabulary.com gives the following definition:
Nationalism is the belief that your own country is better than all others. Sometimes nationalism makes people not want to work with other countries to solve shared problems. It is important not to confuse nationalism with patriotism. Patriotism is a healthy pride in your country that brings about feelings of loyalty and a desire to help other citizens. Nationalism is the belief that your country is superior, without question or doubt. In some cases, nationalism can inspire people to break free of a foreign oppressor, as in the American Revolution, but nationalism can also lead a country to cut itself off from the rest of the world.
In his article, Hayes speaks very negatively about nationalism,” and the quotation in the book “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” signals the very opposite of what is intended. Quoting this article which is 90 years old, shows that the members of the Governing Body are not aware of any newer articles suggesting that saluting the flag is idolatry.
Moreover, the quotation in the book is the same as “comparing apples with oranges.” On page 5, Hayes speaks about “practicing the nationalist cult,” and in relation to this, the flag is the symbol of this worship in the nationalist cult.” The definition above shows that saluting the flag is connected with patriotism and not with nationalism. And I am certain that this is the view all over the world today. The only places where saluting the flag can be connected with nationalism, are dictatorial nations such as North Korea, China, and Russia. So, the apples are nationalism and the oranges are patriotism.
The online article that is quoted above is entitled, “Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Respectfully abstain From Participating in Nationalistic Ceremonies?” The article uses “nationalistic” in a wrong way according to the definition in Vocabulary.com. The right use would have been “patriotic ceremonies.”
The quotation from Daniel P. Mannix, Those About to Die, (1958), chapter 14, part 4, page 2, is also misleading for the readers: “Christians refused to . . . sacrifice to the [Roman] emperor’s genius—roughly equivalent today to refusing to salute the flag.” What the author wants to prove is that saluting the flag is idolatry. We know that sacrificing to the genius of the emperor was idolatry. When Mannix compares this action with saluting the flag, the author of the Watchtower article wants the reader to believe that Mannix says that saluting the flag is idolatry.
However, the quotation is taken out of context. Mannix does not discuss idolatry but he discusses loyalty to the emperor, that is, political loyalty. The Christians did not show this loyalty by refusing to serve in the legions and participate in war, they denounced the Roman wealth, and they refused to sacrifice to the genius of the Roman emperor. The point of Mannix is that the modern equivalent to showing loyalty to the emperor is saluting the flag and repeating the oath of allegiance to the state. Using the words of Mannix to prove that saluting the flag is idolatry is a way of cheating the readers.
The articles in the Watchtower literature have not in any way shown that saluting the flag is idolatry. I will therefore conclude that the members of the Governing Body have acted contrary to the advice of the article in The Watchtower of May 15, 1972. They have begun “to look upon an object as being more than it actually is.” They claim that saluting the flag is idolatry, a view that almost no other human being in the world has.
The view of the members of the Governing Body that saluting the flag is an act of worship and idolatry, where salvation is ascribed to the state and not to God, is an extreme position that you will find almost nowhere else in the world.
This is an excellent example of a Governing Body-trained conscience because it is expected that the consciences of individual Witnesses are adjusted every time the members of the Governing Body make a new decision. |
SALUTING THE FLAG IS AN EXPRESSION OF A PERSON’S ALLEGIANCE TO HIS OR HER COUNTRY
The first point of three giving the reason why Jehovah’s Witnesses will not salute the flag, was: “It pledges total allegiance to an earthly authority.” If we remove the adjective “total,” this point is correct. The quotations above said:
The salute is an action that shows respect for the flag and our country.
The salute itself has become a symbol of respect and remembrance.
Saluting the Red, White and Blue is testimony of sincere patriotism, loyalty, love for our country and respect for American ideals.
There is no mention of worship or salvation. But the view in which almost all people in the world would agree, is that saluting the flag symbolizes respect and loyalty to his or her country. The view expressed by the members of the governing Body is idiosyncratic and extreme.
[1]. https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+real+meaning+of+saluting+the+flag%3F&sca_esv=0638464d073c0798&sca_upv=1&rlz=1C5CHFA_enNO983NO983&sxsrf=ADLYWIL5T33-r115xfGhw0XY9y-mWwo1ww%3A1722403629231&ei=LcupZpLpDfe8wPAPgceQ-AM&ved=0ahUKEwjSs-vDxdCHAxV3HhAIHYEjBD8Q4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=what+is+the+real+meaning+of+saluting+the+flag%3F&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiLndoYXQgaXMgdGhlIHJlYWwgbWVhbmluZyBvZiBzYWx1dGluZyB0aGUgZmxhZz8yBRAhGKABMgUQIRifBTIFECEYnwVIvFZQsQtYyERwAXgBkAEAmAFroAHmDqoBBDI4LjG4AQPIAQD4AQGYAh6gArgPwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICCBAAGIAEGMsBwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgYQABgNGB7CAggQABgWGAoYHsICCBAAGBYYHhgPwgIEECEYFcICBxAhGKABGAqYAwCIBgGQBgaSBwQyOS4xoAe8nwE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
[2] https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/commemoration/symbols/salute.
VOTING AND THE BIBLE-TRAINED CONSCIENCE
While the members of the Governing Body have invented reasons for not saluting the flag that neither are based on realities nor on the Bible, the situation in connection with voting is clear-cut. In the Watchtower of November 1, 1999, pages 28, 29, the question why Jehovah’s Witnesses do not vote was discussed, and I quote the reasons that were given:
There are clear principles set out in the Bible that enable servants of God to take a proper view of this matter. However, there appears to be no principle against the practice of voting itself. For example, there is no reason why a board of directors should not take a vote in order to arrive at decisions affecting their corporation. Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses often make decisions about meeting times and the use of congregation funds by voting with a show of hands.
What, though, of voting in political elections? Of course, in some democratic lands, as many as 50 percent of the population do not turn out to vote on election day. As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, they do not interfere with the right of others to vote; neither do they in any way campaign against political elections. They respect and cooperate with the authorities who are duly elected in such elections. (Romans 13:1-7) As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State. (Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) In making this personal decision, the Witnesses consider a number of factors.
First, Jesus Christ said of his followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:14) Jehovah’s Witnesses take this principle seriously. Being “no part of the world,” they are neutral in the political affairs of the world.—John 18:36.
Second, the apostle Paul referred to himself as an “ambassador” representing Christ to the people of his day. (Ephesians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20) Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Christ Jesus is now the enthroned King of God’s heavenly Kingdom, and they, like ambassadors, must announce this to the nations. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 11:15) Ambassadors are expected to be neutral and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the countries to which they are sent. As representatives of God’s heavenly Kingdom, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel a similar obligation not to interfere in the politics of the countries where they reside.
A third factor to consider is that those who have a part in voting a person into office may become responsible for what he does. (Compare 1 Timothy 5:22, The New English Bible.) Christians have to consider carefully whether they want to shoulder that responsibility.
Fourth, Jehovah’s Witnesses greatly value their Christian unity. (Colossians 3:14) When religions get involved in politics, the result is often division among their members. In imitation of Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid becoming involved in politics and thus maintain their Christian unity.—Matthew 12:25; John 6:15; 18:36, 37.
Fifth and finally, their keeping out of politics gives Jehovah’s Witnesses freeness of speech to approach people of all political persuasions with the important message of the Kingdom.—Hebrews 10:35.
The basic points are the first and the second ones. Jehovah’s Witnesses are no part of the world. Behind this point is the fact that the followers of Jesus are citizens of God’s kingdom and, therefore, cannot take part in pursuits that only citizens of the country in which they live can do.[1] Moreover, Christians are ambassadors for God’s kingdom, and “Ambassadors are expected to be neutral and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the countries to which they are sent.”
The third point is only partially true. God has allowed one government to follow another in order to prevent chaos. But he is not responsible for what the governments do. In a similar way, if Christians would vote in order to support the superior authorities that God allows, they are not responsible for the decisions these authorities make. We can also consider voting for members in a municipal council. Their task is to make decisions on the part of the municipality, and there are very few decisions they can make that violate Bible principles.
Points four and five are also minor. Voting is, to a great degree, confidential. A person enters the booth and puts his ballot paper in the box. That would not jeopardize the unity in the congregation nor the freeness of speech in the preaching work.
But as mentioned, points one and two are important. A person cannot make a political vote without compromising his position as a citizen of and an ambassadoe of God’s kingdom.
The conclusion is that because Christians are citizens of God’s kingdom and ambassadors for this kingdom, they cannot salute the flag of any nation or vote in political elections. |
[1]. The issue of citizenship in God’s kingdom is discussed in detail in the article, “Democracy versus Theocracy — The Christians and the Superior Authorities.”
THE COMPROMISE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
The first point in the discussion of voting shows that the Witnesses do not vote because they are not a part of the world. We read, “Jehovah’s Witnesses take this principle seriously.” But from the year 1996 onward, this principle has not been taken seriously. Until this year, the Witnesses acted as ambassadors to the countries where they lived. They did not vote in political elections, they did not salute the flag of any nation, and they did not accept that the governments put them under compulsory military service or alternative civil service.
However, The Watchtower of May 1, 1996, published the decision of the members of the Governing Body that from now on they accepted that the governments had the right to put Jehovah’s Witnesses under compulsory civil service. This was a compromise because no government has the right to put ambassadors under compulsory service. By this decision, the members of the Governing Body had adjusted the Bible-trained consciences of the Witnesses to become Governing Body-trained consciences. Now, young men and women who were summoned to do alternative civil service could use “their” consciences to accept this service.
The compromise of the members of the Governing Body had consequences. Actually, what was the guilt of a Witness who voted for a political party in an election? He did not hurt anyone, and he did not violate any of the moral laws of Jehovah. And he followed the law of the country. But by casting his vote he waived his position as a citizen of God’s kingdom and his position as an ambassador — he violated his neutrality.
It was exactly the same with the decision of the members of the Governing Body in the year 1996. By accepting, on behalf of all Jehovah’s Witnesses, that the governments of the world have the right to put the Witnesses under compulsory service, they waived the Witnesses’ position as citizens of God’s kingdom and their position as ambassadors — they violated the neutrality of the individual Witnesses.
The consequence of this is that Witnesses with the Governing Body-trained conscience no longer have any biblical reason for not saluting the flag and for not voting in elections. The members of the Governing Body have led Jehovah’s Witnesses to become a part of the world, to be, in the real sense of the word, citizens in the country in which they live. Therefore, they should do their civic duty of saluting the flag of their native country and vote in elections of this country.[1]
I do not argue that saluting the flag and voting is correct for Christians. It is not correct. But because the members of the Governing Body have waived the position of the Jehovah’s Witnesses as citizens and ambassadors of God’s kingdom, the Witnesses have no biblical reason for not saluting the flag or voting. But Witnesses who do not accept the change of view of the members of the Governing Body regarding civil service because of their Bible-trained consciences, are still citizens and ambassadors of God’s kingdom. Therefore, they have a biblical reason for not voting or saluting the flag
[1]. For detailed studies of the situation before and after the compromise in 1996, see the articles, “We cannot trust the evershifting views and the decisions of the Governing Body,” and “Democracy versus Theocracy — the Christians and the Superior Authorities.”
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The members of the Governing Body are cheating the Witnesses: They are the ones who decide what the Witnesses shall believe and do. But they lead the Witnesses to believe that it is the Witnesses themselves who have decided what to believe and do. They lead the Witnesses to believe that they have a Bible-trained conscience when the fact is that they have a Governing Body-trained conscience.
They are also cheating the Witnesses by leading them to believe that they have biblical reasons for not to vote and not to salute the flag when the members of the Governing Body have taken away their position as citizens and ambassadors of God’s kingdom by compromising the issue of compulsory civil service.
But the case is that every Witness who has a real Bible-trained conscience has clear reasons for not to vote, not to salute the flag, and not to accept compulsory civil service.